Cushioning device



Oct. 18, 1932. D. F. SPROUL CUSHIONING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22, 1931 liu/arzzor:

Donald J v ig Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DONALD F. SPBOUL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CARDWELL WESTINGHOUSE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE GUSHIONING- DEVICE Application filed May 22, 1931.

. the device;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, fragmentarily showing the device under compression;

Fig. 3 is an end view;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 14 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a group of the various elements of the device, except the springs, shown in perspective.

The device comprises a pair of alined cylinders 10, 11, each having at its remoter end an outstanding flange 12. 13. Enclosed within the cylinders, and extending into both of them, are a plurality of friction shoes 14, 15, segmental in form and bearing against the inner surface of the cylinders. Each of 4 these shoes is provided with an outstanding flange 16, 17 intermediate of its ends and projecting between the two cylinders. Interposed between the shoe flanges and the flange of each of the cylinders is a helical spring 18, 19, which act as a unit and might be'construct-ed as such except for the fact that the shoe flanges may be more conveniently interlocked with the spring elements when the latter is made in two sections.

Interfitting between the friction shoes are a pair of wedge-blocks 20, 21, their wedging faces cooperating with complementary faces, as 22, formed on the shoes adjacent to their ends. An expansible helical spring 23 reacts between the two. wedge-blocks to urge, by its inherent strength, the shoes against the cylinder walls.

The outer ends of the cylinders are open and conveniently fit over retaining bosses formed on parts between which the device is interposed.

In service force applied to the two ends of the device move the cylinders relatively toward each other against the resistance of the spring means 18, 19. The shoes 14, 15, being Serial No. 539,220.

interlocked with the spring means, are carried downwardly into cylinder 10, while the cylinder 11 advances more rapidly than the shoes, the parts being ultimately carried to t-he'positions shown in Fig.- 2, if the force applied is sufficient to fully compress the spring. The friction developed between the shoes and cylinders, therefore, is constant, and its degree is determined by the strength of the spring 23.

As the parts become worn they are held in intimate contact by the lengthening of the spring 23.

While but one pair of shoes is shown, ob-

viously the use of a plurality of pairs would a be within the scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention 1. In a cushioning device, in combination, a pair of'alined cylinders each having an outstanding flange, spring means reacting between the flanges, a pair of segmental shoes each engaging the inner faces of both cylinders, inwardly facing spreading wedges carried by the-shoes adjacent to their ends, wed e blocks cooperating with each pair of the named wedges, a spring reacting between the wedge blocks, and means for interlocking the shoes with the spring means.

2. ha cushioning device, in combination, a pair of alined cylinders each having an outstanding flange, spring means reacting between the flanges, a pair of segmental shoes each engaging the inner facees of both cylinders and having a lateral flange projecting between the cylinders and engaging the spring means, inwardly facing spreading wedges carried by the shoes adjacent to their ends, wedge blocks cooperating with each pair of the named wedges, and a spring reacting between the wedgev blocks.

3. In a cushioning device, in combination, a pair of alined cylinders having outstanding flanges at their outer ends, a pair of segmental shoes extending into each cylinder and frictionally engaging the wall thereof and each having an outstanding flange projecting between the two cylinders, a spring reacting between said flanges and the flange of each cylinder, and means urging the shoes against the cylinder walls with constant pressure.

4. In a cushioning device, in combination, a pair of alined cylinders having outstanding flanges, s ring means reactingbetween the flanges, 'ction plates each engaging the inner faces of the cylinders and being mterlocked with the spring means, and means for holding the shoes in engagement with the cylinder walls with constant pressure. a

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

DONALD F. SPROUL. 

